Tank regulator



Jan. 20.- 1925.

W. M. FULTON TANK REGULATOR Filed Sept. 27. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet l Svwemtot w u Ill, lh y ml -A vll..

Jan. 20. 1925.

W. M. FULTON TANK REGULATOR l: Il

man

Patented Jan. 20, 1925.

UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

WESTON M. FULTON, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR T0 THE FULTON COH- PANY, O'F XNOXVILLE'. TENNESSEE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

TANK REGULATOR.

Applicatiouled September 27, 1920. Serial No. 413,120.

To all lr/mm. if may concern.'

'lie it known that l, l'VnsToN M. Fifizrox, a citizenotl the United States of America, and a resident of Knoxville, Tennessee, have invented new and useful lmprovemcnts in Tank Regulators, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to temperature regulators and is-au improvementon the construction shown` described and claimed in .my United States Patent No. 1.300,71?.

grantedApril l5, 1919. 'lhc invention has for its objects to reduce the number of soldered joints in connection with the thermosensitive bulb and the thermosensitive flexible member; to reduce to a minimum the number of mechanical Huid-tight joints in the structurmto the end that liability of leakage/from a tank or a container may be reduced to a minimum; to simplify the means whereby the transmission unit of said patent is attached to the thermostatic member and to the operated member, such as the valve member of the regulator; to avoid the possible twisting, and hence liability to` rupture, of the flexible conduit of the power transmission unit; and to provide simple means for preventing injury to the parts when power is transmitted from the thermostat to the valve mechanism or other element to be controlled after said valve mechanism or element has reached its extreme position.

The invention is particularly applicable to the regulation of the temperature in hot water tanks.' Such tanks are generally installed by ordinaryV plumbers. or other unskilled persons, and frequently have to be kept in order by janitors, or other unskilled mechanics. and it is, therefore, particularly desirable that the regulator mechanism be such as to be readily installed by people of this class without injury to the apparatus. The power transmission unit, being one of the exposed parts, is the one most liable to injury not only in the act of installing the same but during use, and the present invention is designed to facilitate the installation of the power transmissionk unit without undue'strain ul the connecting conduit', or

other parts, such as would occur upon twistme of the conduit, and also in case injury has occurred to sald conduit to facilitate the lremoval thereof and substitution *of a new unit by any unskilled workman without danger of injury to the parts or lliability of their being assembled in such a way as to prevent perfect operation.

l`urthermore, all thermostats for use in such installal ions known as a lag, i. e. the temperature of the thermostat does not attain the temperature of the water surrounding the same for an appreciable period of time after the wate.l has reached. such temperature. It follows from this that., if the apparatus is set to close the valve .controlling the heating medium at a given temperature of the water, th(` thermostatic element will continue to ac t and transmit power to the valve mechanism and other parts after the valve' is closed, resulting in Awhat is technically known as overthrow of the thcrmostatic element, and means must be provided to compensate for this overthrow to avoid injury to the parts.

Still another diliticulty experienced in installations of this character is the liability of leakage to occur wherever there are brazed or soldered joints, and it is therefore eX- tremely desirable to reduce these brazed or soldered joints toa minimum.

The invention consists in the various elements and combination of elements hereinafter described and defined in the claims7 by means of which the objects above set forth are accomplished and the objections enumerated to structures of this kind are overcome.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. l is a sectional view (parts being shown in elevation) of a. tank regulator embodying the invention, the parts being shown inoperative position and the tank and the heating-coil being indicated diagrammatically Fig. 2 is a side elevation of lator with the ower transmission unit shown detached rom the thermostat and the valve mechanism;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail illustrating the means toprevent rotation between the transmission rod and the eX- pansible and collapsible vessel.

Referring to the drawings in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout, A is the thermostat element, B

the tank reguthe valve element, C the power transmission posscss what is technically i sible and contractible vesseli'h2, a frame 3, a

' v ad'usting vessel 2 is in the form'of a flanged member provided with a '.hubort-ion; 6 having a screw-threaded .part 7 by means of which the' thermostatic element A is attached to the .tankdl The thermosensitive bulb 1 is tirst massue the'iixed'- head 5 of the expansible and contractible providing a o ning 1.9 through which the expansible. an

'the' two heads of the expansible 'and collapsible vessel 2 are brazed thereto and the jolnt where the bulb 1 is brazed to the hub 4 collapsible vessel and lthe','theri'nosensitive bulb are iilledrwith a thermosensitive uid, such as acetone orv alcohol, the opening being. then closed by aplug 20v and the latter preferably held in 6. Furthermore, 'it will be observed that rolled or spun onto the inne-r end of the\ the connection of these parts to the frame 3,

hub 6 and then soldered or brazed thereto,

as shown at'8 'Ihe flexible wall of the expansibleA and collapsible vessel 2` is soldered or brazed to the head 5,- and a conduit or tube 9 extends! from the interior of the t-hermosensitive bulb 1 through the -fixed head 5, to the end that communication between Athe bulb and the colla sible and expansible ves- Sel 2 ma be estab ished. To secure the best results t is communication should be of such a character as to trapor retain the vapors I bulb l to etiect such trapping of vapors in' of the thermosensiti've fluid within the bulb,

said vapors, upon a rise of temperature,

exerting't-heir pressure upon and forcingthe' liquid out ofthe bulb into the collapsibleand ex ansible vessel. Any suitable means that wi l thus effectively trap the vapors and prevent their passage'out of the bulb may be employed but.,A preferably, the tube 9 has its' inner terminal end, within the bulb 1, bent so .as to come near the side wall of the the bulb and the expulsion of liquid only (upon a rise in temperatureyf-rom the bulb into the expansible .and collapsible vessel 2. The frame 3 and the expansible and collapsible vessel 2 are secured together by means of a framecap 11. This cap has an opening through which the'hub 6 extends, the cap 11 being-secured to the frame by ,screws 12. The under side ofthe head 5 has a slot 13 formed therein which is engaged by a lug- 14 on theframe cap, to the end that relative turning movement between the frame cap and the fixed head of the expansible and collapsible vessel 2 may be prevented. There is also provideda locking i nut 15 screw-threaded on the hub 6 to securely lock the frame cap and the head 5 to ther. l

he movable head 16 ofthe expansible and collapsible vessel 2 is cup-shaped, as shown,

and brazed or soldered to the tubular Wall of the vessel.' This movable head has a rib portion 17 stamped therein which engages aslot 1n the foot-piece 18 of the transmission rod 4, thereby preventing any turning movement between said foot-piece and the expansible and collapsiblev vvessel 2. This stamped rib portion 17 also affords space for -sion rod 4 extends throu h this tubular member' 23 and through t e opening inl the, rame cross-bar 22 of the Surrounding the tubular member 23v and bearing upon the foot-piece 18 of the transmission rod 4-is a coiled spring 25. The other end of this spring bears against a thrust-piece' 26 between which. and the nut are preferably provided ball-'bearings 27 toeliminate fric-V tion inadjusting theA tension of the spring 25. The transmission vrod 4 is preferably secured tothe foot-piece 18l by a screwthreaded connection as shown at 28, and extends up through the tubular vpiece 23 above the cross-bar 22 of the frame, its upper end being provided with screwsthreads on which is receiveda "screw-threaded nut 29 having a T-slot 29 -(Fig. 2) formed therein. This nut. 29 can be adjusted by screwing the'same up or down on the threads of the rod 4 and fixed in any position by a Cotter-pin 30 passing through the rod and between ears on the nut in a well-known way.

The valve mechanism B consists of a valve casing 31, and a valve 32 of any suitable kind working therein and controlling the flow of the heating fluid through pipe 33 to the coil E in the tank D. The valve stem is screw-.threaded at 34 and, by means of said screw-threads, connected to a T-slotted member 35.

Secured on 36, which frame serves to support one end of the power transmission4 unit C as hereinafterdescribed.- This power transmission' unit consists of two cXpans-ible and collapsible vessels, one, 37, at the thermostatic end of a exible tube 38 'and one, 39, at the valve mechanism end of said tube.

the valve casing is a frame l The frame 3 is extended beyond the ciossbar 22, as shown at' 40, and has a second cross-arm 41 having a flat-sided slot 42 formed therein, and the fixed head 43 of t/he collapsible and expansible vessel has formed thereon a squared or flat-sided boss`44, of

v such dimensions as to fit snugly within the slot 42, and projecting through said slot, the

projecting end 45 being screw-threaded as shown. The flexible tube 38 'is soldered or brazed into an opening in the screw-threaded projection 45, which opening is prolonged through the head 43 and through an inwardly projecting tubular portion 46 telescoping with a like tubular projection 47 projecting from the movable head 48 of the expansible and collapsible vessel 37, these two telescopic members 46 and 47' constituting a stop to limit the collapsing action of the vessel and restricting the relative moveinentof the heads of the vessel to rectilinf ear motion. Integral with the movable head 48 of the vessel 37 is a T-head 49 which slips easily but snugly into the T-slot 29 on the nut 29 of the power transmission stein 4. .Formed centrally through tihe T-head 49 and through the movable head 4S is a filling opening 50, Which opening, after the vessels have been filled with a non-compressible liquid, is closed by a stopper and preferably sealed by bra-zing a cap over the stopper, or by a drop ofsolder.

' When the T-head 49 is slipped into the T-slot 29 on the nut 29, and the boss 44 is slid within the slot 42 on the iframe, a nut 51 is screwed onto the screw-threaded proj ection 45 on the fixed lhead 43, firmly clamping the parts in position, the s uared boss 44 engaging the slot 42, and e ectively preventing any twisting` or turning action being imparted to the flexible tube 38. rlhe mov-- able head 52 of the expansible and collapsible vessel 39 has formed integral therewith, a l

T-head fitting within the T-slot of the meinber 35, exactly similar to that formed on the vessel 37, and also has a squared boss 53 fitting into a slot 54 in the frame 36 and is clamped in position by a nut 55, exactly similar to the manner in which the other vessel 37 is mounted on its frame 40, 41, and is also provided with telescopic members 56 limiting and restricting to rectilinear motion the collapsing movement of the vessel 39, similar to the telescopic members previously described in connection with the vessel 37. In fact, the manner of connecting the flexible tube to the expansible vessels 37 and 39, the

the ex ansible and collapsible vessel 39 and the tu e 38.

In Fig. l the parts are shown in their adjustedan operative position. When the parts are in this position, the temperature at which the device will operate may be regulated byturning the nut 24 to vary the pressure on the spring 25 and hence the pressure on the expansible and collapsible vessel 2.

In case of injury to any portion of the power transmission unit C, it is 4only necessary to loosen the nuts 51 and 55, when the two squared bosses 44 and 53 may be slid out of tlhe slots in the respective frames and the T-heads on the movable heads of the two expansible and collapsible vessels slipped out of' the respective T-slots, as will be readily understood from an inspection of Fig. 2. The parts may be then re-assembled or a new transmission member C inserted in position by slipping the T-heads of the respective expansible and collapsible vessels into the T-slots of the transmission rod and the valve rod, slipping the squared bosses 53 and 44 into the slots 54 andl 42 and tightening the nuts 55 and 5l.

The wer transmission unit vas thus constructe can be quickly and accurately assembled in operative relation to the other parts by any unskilled person without danger of' twisting or straining the conduit 33 which is the delicate member of such unit. 'lhis is a matter of special importance if.y a new transmission unit is to be substituted for an injured one since it avoids the expense of employing a highly skilled mechanic to effect the substitution.

It will be observed that, upon a rise of temperature within the tank D, the expansion of vapors in the bulb 1 will force liquid through the tube 9 into the expansible and collapsible vessel 2 to expand the same, forcing the rod 4 outward and tending to collapse the vessel 37 and force the liquid therein through the flexible tube into the vessel 39, expanding the same and forcing the valve rod downward to close the valve 32. A reverse movement will, by reason of tlux elasticity of the vessel 39, cause the liquid to be returned from the vessel 39 to the vessel 37, opening the valve. In ease the temperature in the tank should continue to rise after the valve 32 has been fully seated, provision is made for preventing undue strain upon the parts, b v imparting to the flexible Walls of the vessels 37 and 39 such elasticity Athat their elastic limit will not be exceeded lUU . pleviouslyxstated, in 'a regulator of the I construction herein described,iit is extremely desirable that-the vapors of the thermosensitive liquid in the bulb 1 should be eetively trapped within the bulb 'andtheir pressure transmitted through the liquid into Vthe expansible -and collapsible vessel .2.

from-by pressureof thevaprg-QAB here shown, the open end of tu' This is byany suitable means for .trapping the va rs within the bulb whilev permitting the. quid tobegexpelled there-v tionedthatsuch end is always covered liquid' and the' vapor is thereby prevented from escapin therethrough. This renders it desirable, i the bulb is to be installed 1n horizontal position, tol have vit always installedwith the openend of the tube 9 downl tical position,with the open' end of the tube ment A in the tank 'l i' -wardf'and any suitable index mark or other 20 provision. may be .made for insuring that it shall benstalled in this position. Mamfestly, when the bulbl isinserted in a ver- 9 downward, no such indicating mark 4is necessa It be seen that, by the present invention, there. is provided sim le and effective means for installin r the 't ermostatic elethat such element is provided with a minimum number of brazed or soldered joints; that the power transmitting element C may be quickly removed from, or placedin position 1n connection with, the thermostatic velement A and the valvev mechanism4 B b unskilled persons and without danger o twisting or straining any of the arts 1n the act of clamping such element C 1n position. This is a matter of great' importance, since it avoids injurvin the installation and provides a durable, light, and'effective mechanism for transmittin the power from the thermostat tothe va ve, and also provides means, unyielding in the direction of the thrust of the vessel 39 on the valve stem, and yet at the same time, notwithstanding such unyielding action, avoids any strain on the parts dueto a possible overthrow of the thermostat.

What is claimed is 1. In combination with valve mechanism,l

mostat.

2. .In combination, a thermostat, 'mecha-v A nism to be operatedby -said thermostat, means for operating said mechanism `from said thermostat includln communicating expansible and contractile vessels, said vessels having an elastic limit suiiicient to absorb-the over-throw ofthe thermostat and being charged with a power-transmitting uid and constituting a readllyattachable.

and detachable unit, and means, unyielding inthe directionin which power is transmitted. for-attaching -said unit to and detaching iffrom .said mechanism and thermostat, without disturbing the mechanism or thermostat.

the combination of a valve mechanism and a' thermostat eachof which is provided with a.

-slotted frame, with a power-transmitting unit including two expansible and contracti- 85 ble vessels and a flexible tube connecting them,= saiid Vessels and tube beingjilled' with a power-transmittingtluid, each of said vessels. having a bossen one head .thereof and fitting into the .slot in the respective 00 a member of rframes, andeach vessel hav' a T-joint on its other head an ooacting with a companion T-joint member' operatively connected respectlvely to the thermostat/and the valve, Iand means securing said position in their respective frames.

4. In combination, a thermostat, nis'm operated by said thermostat, said operated mechanism and thermostat being provided 'with a slotted frame, a power-trans- 100 mitting unit including two expansible and contractiblevessels, and a tube connecting them, said vessels and tube being filled with a. power-transmitting iuid, each of said vessels having a boss on the head thereof and iitting into the) slot in the respective frames, and eachvessel havinga member of a T-joint on its other head and coacting with a companion T-joint member operatively connected respectlvely to the thermostat and operated mechanism, and means securing said bosses in position in theirmspective frames.

5. In a device of thecharacter described,

the combinationof an expansible and con- 115 tractible vessel, a flanged member forming one head of said vessel and provided with a hub having a screw-threaded portion for securing said member to a tank or other wall,

a bulb attached to sai-d hub, a conduit in' said 120 l hub connectin said bulb and vessel, and a frame cap having a central opening through which said hub passes and non-rotatable with respect thereto wherebysaid cap and member may be rotated as a unit to insertl the threaded portion of said hub in said wall.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a bulb and a contractible and expansible vessel, a flanged member formingone of said vessel, and having 13( 80 3. In a device of the character described,

bosses in 96 mechaa hub to which said bulb is attached and a conduit in said hub comiecting said bulb and vessel, la frame surrounding said vessel, and having an opening through which said hub passes, and means for securing said hub non-rotatably in said opening said means comprising a lug formed on said frame for engaging a slot in said flanged member, and a. nut threaded on said hub.

7. In a tank regulator, the combination of a valve mechanism and a frame connected thereto, a thermostatic element consisting of an expansible and collapsible vessel, the fixed head of which is provided with a hub having a conduit leading therethrough and a bulb on said hub, a frame having a cap secured to the fixed head of the eXpansible and collapsible vessel in non-rotatable relation therewith, a power-transmitting unit conn ion T-joint members operatively connected respectively to the thermostatic element and the valve mechanism. s

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

WESTON M. FULTON. 

